Coming off its biggest winning margin of the season, the Fitzroy Stars are eyeing off a top-two spot on the A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 ladder.
Currently third with a 6-1-3 record, senior coach Jason Mifsud believes his side’s best hasn’t yet been truly established in 2017.
In particular, he believes there is one key aspect of the Stars’ game that needs improvement if they are to threaten for the flag.
“We still have some work to do around our general conversion,” Mifsud told NFL.org.au.
“We’re getting our shots from really good spots on the ground but we just don’t convert as easily like we need to.
“Our best footy is in front of us. There’s no doubt about that.”
Mifsud believes his side doesn’t deserve to be positioned any higher than its current, despite showing at times it is capable of bettering the competition – which includes a win and a draw in two outings against ladder-leader North Heidelberg.
“Third is a true representation of where we’re at,” he said.
“We tend not to look at the hypotheticals. We could have won more games and lost one or two others, but we are where we are.”
The Stars used 28 players in the first six weeks, with that number rising to close to 40 after ten rounds, with plenty of short-term injuries hindering their ability to retain a consistent side each week.
Mifsud lauded some of his players who have had to step up and perform in 2017.
“Malcolm Dow (previous best and fairest winner) has gone to another level that I haven’t seen before. He’s been our most consistent player and at a very high level,” Mifsud said.
“Allan Norris turns up to play every week. He’s an absolute beauty.
“Hedley Smith, who’s come in this year as a 19-year-old, as a midfield-forward has been very consistent. There’s no mistake in the fact that when he plays well,we play well. He gives us a little bit of what we didn’t have through the midfield.”
The Stars are coming into their Round 11 clash with fourth-placed Thomastown in strong form, having defeated Panton Hill by 150 points last week.
Mifsud said it was a statement that was needed to be made after disappointingly going down to sixth-placed Watsonia a week prior.
“The Watsonia game was probably symptomatic of the three weeks leading into it,” he said.
“Watsonia to their credit started really well and worked hard to keep the ball off us. We just couldn’t reel them in.
“We took some time last week to reflect on our approach and our preparation. Training was as good as it’s been all season last week so it’s no surprise we came out and kicked the highest ever score from a Fitzroy Stars team.”
The Northern Football League this week celebrates Indigenous Round in honour of Sir Douglas Nicholls, coinciding with NAIDOC week.
The Fitzroy Stars, who play an integral role in building strong relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, will again relish the opportunity this year as a club.
“It’s a week of celebration around Aboriginal history and survival in many respects,” Mifsud said of the week’s significance.
“I don’t think we can really overstate the importance of the week and what it represents, and we’ve got the opportunity this Saturday to, as a club, really bring that to life.
“Sport’s been a significant vehicle for social change and awareness. The role the Stars play in the Northern Football League goes far beyond a weekend of footy.”
The Stars will host Thomastown at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval this Saturday.
